WILDLIFE OF THE LOWER ZAMBEZI PHOTO SAFARI

Day 1 Meeting in Lusaka, Flight to Lower Zambezi

We will assemble in Lusaka Domestic Airport, a few minutes' walk from the international arrival terminal. Contingent on your arrival times, we will take a short domestic light-plane flight to Jeki Airstrip, a secluded airstrip close to the border. From there we will be picked up by our guides and driven to camp, where we will settle in our tents and discuss the plans for the days ahead.

Days 2-7 Wild Safari

Each day, we will wake up at about 4:45, have breakfast and head out at about 5:30-5:45, to be on location at the right time for shooting. After shooting for several hours, we will get back to camp, where you can download your images. We will then have lunch, followed by a critique session - a critical time to review your images and correct your mistakes before heading back to the field at 15:30, for another 2.5- or 3-hour shoot. Your flight schedule permitting, we will also shoot on the morning of day 7, before heading to Jeki for our flight back to Lusaka Airport.

The Wildlife

World famous for its abundant wildlife, Lower Zambezi NP holds an astonishing variety of species, including the Cape buffalo, Cape wild dog, a large elephant population, lion, leopard, many antelope species, crocodile, and hippopotamus. There are also a large number of species of birds.

But more than this, the animals inhabit and roam one of the most photogenic forests imaginable, with winterthorn (white acacia) trees which look like they came right out of a Tim Burton movie. When the sun rises and penetrates the dense canopies and branches, true photographic magic happens.

We will usually dedicate the early mornings to either cats (lions and leopards) or wild dogs. There are several packs of lions, some with cubs (extremely likely to encounter), and several leopards with cubs (leopard sightings extremely likely, lower chance of cubs). The cats usually hunt in the mornings, where we can see them either during the hunt or consuming their prey.

Wild dog hunts can be brutal, and you may choose whether you wish to witness them or do something else. We are very likely to be able to follow the dogs on their hunt and see their strategic methods of taking down prey up to 10 times their size.

Another option for especially cold mornings would be hippos. I have found locations where we can shoot them illuminated in red morning light, front- or backlit.

The afternoons will usually be dedicated to elephants. These gentle giants wander the forests of the park in great numbers, and we will be there at the right place and right time to capture not only the animals, but a complete composition of the elephant in its natural environment - a much better and tougher feat to achieve. Anyone can shoot a portrait of an animal, but the most interesting images show the bigger picture, and have the light conditions to match.

On one of the afternoons we will hop a boat and go on a sail in the Zambezi River, where we can shoot hippos, but more importantly, we can see elephants crossing the river - a magnificent sight.

Our Camp

The camp consists of 6 tents, all dedicated exclusively to our group. The tents don't have electricity or running water, but there is plenty of clean water for general use and a hot shower is available in the ensuite bathroom whenever you want it. Electricity is plentifully available for all your needs in the main area, where you can leave your devices and chargers without concern.
All meals, drinks and snacks will be available in the main area. Varying buffet breakfast, lunch and delicious 3-course chef-made dinners will be held according to our group's schedule, and will not interfere with our shooting plans. Alcoholic drinks are all included, so you're welcome to join me for a triple-shot gin&tonic after coming back from an eventful shoot.
Most importantly, the camp is located very close to the wildlife: reaching most animals will not take more than 20-30 minutes, and that's what it's all about.